Texas Computer Science Teacher Certification

<table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree and state-approved educator preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exam Requirements </td><td> TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (EC-12); Computer Science (8-12)</td></tr> <tr><td> License Renewal Period </td><td> Five years</td></tr> <tr><td> CEU Credits Required for Renewal </td><td> 150 hours of continuing professional education</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Salary (2018, Texas) </td><td> $58,190 (all high school teachers)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td> 8% (all high school teachers)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) </i></p><h3 id="section---ObtainDegree">Obtain Degree</h3><p>The first step to becoming a certified computer science teacher is to obtain the minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of higher learning. Prospective computer science teachers generally major in computer science or a related subject. Courses for this degree can include topics such as computer programming, data structures, and software engineering. </p><h3 id="section---CompleteEducatorPreparationProgram">Complete Educator Preparation Program</h3><p>Prospective computer science teachers must also complete a computer education teacher preparation program that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency. The program includes a mix of coursework and clinical fieldwork as a student teacher in a local school. Courses typically include subjects such as educational technology, high school classroom management, and educational psychology. Candidates must also take a course that includes instruction on teaching students with dyslexia. </p><h3 id="section---PassRequiredExams">Pass Required Exams</h3><p>There are two exams that all prospective computer science teachers must take and pass with a score of at least 240: TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 (PPR) and the TExES Computer Science (8-12). Each exam is computer-based and contains 100 multiple-choice questions. The PPR exam focuses on the prospective teacher's knowledge and skills in education subjects, such as promoting student learning, creating a positive classroom environment, and fulfilling professional responsibilities as a teacher. The Computer Science content exam includes questions in four main subdomains: Technology Applications Core, Programming Design and Development, Programming Language Topics, and Specialized Computer Topics. </p><h3 id="section---SendInApplication">Send in Application</h3><p>Once all requirements have been met, candidates should verify with their educator preparation program that they are eligible to apply for initial certification. Prospective computer science teachers should send a completed application form, fee, exam scores, official transcripts, and any other supporting documentation to the Texas Education Agency for review. The Texas Education Agency requires that all teachers complete a criminal background check and have fingerprints on file to receive certification and begin teaching. </p><h3 id="section---MeetRenewalRequirements">Meet Renewal Requirements</h3><p>The initial computer science teaching certification is valid for five years. Teachers must complete 150 continuing professional education (CPE) hours before renewing the certification. The Texas Education Agency maintains a list of approved providers and methods to fulfill this requirement. Some possible ways to obtain the needed hours include completing a master's degree, participating in workshops, attending video conferences on education, and teaching a CPE activity. Teachers should keep documentation of all completed hours.</p>